Combined accelerator pedal and switch



Aug. 18, 1942. 5. G. SMITH 2,293,409

COMBINED ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND SWITCH Filed Dec. 51, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheetl In venior Aug.,18, 1942. S. G. SMITH 2,293,409

COMBINED ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND SWITCH Filed Dec. 31, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet2 r L/ By Aiforney Patented Aug. 18, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICECOMBINED ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND SWITCH Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in combinedaccelerator pedals and switches for motor vehicles and has for itsprimary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, adevice of this character whereby both the engine throttle valve and adirection signal on the vehicle may be conveniently controlled with onefoot, thus permitting the hands to remain on the steering wheel.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide acombination pedal of the aforementioned character which may remain ineither circuit closing position and at the same time control the vehicleengine.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a combined acceleratorpedal and signal control switch of the character described which will becomparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly eihcientand reliable in use, compact and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of theinvention will become apparent from a study of the followingspecification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawingswherein like characters of reference designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a combined accelerator pedal andsignal control switch constructed in accordance with the presentinvention, showing the floor of the vehicle in vertical section.

Figure 2 is a plan view, looking at the device substantially from theline 22 in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view in rear elevation, looking at the device from line3-3 in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view, taken substantially on the line 4-4of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a view in vertical longitudinal section, the forward portionof the pedal member being broken away.

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view of the electric circuit.

Figure 7 is a detail View in rear elevation of the hinge member.

Figure 8 is a detail view in horizontal section through the pedal ear orflange.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that theembodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises abracket l of suitable metal which is firmly secured, as at 2, in thedesired position on the floor 3 of the vehicle. The floor bracket lineludes integral ears 4 between which a shaft or pin 5 extends.

J ournaled on the pin 5 is a hinge 6 which includes a leaf or plate 1.Mounted on the plate I and extending rearwardly therefrom is a pedalmember coupling bolt 8 the head 9 of which, it will be noted, iscountersunk in said plate "I.

The reference numeral 10 designates a pedal member having secured in anysuitable manner to its lower rear portion a metallic plate II. The plateH is elongated and terminates in a right angularly extending, aperturedrear end portion constituting a flange or ear l2 which is slidably androtatably mounted on the bolt 8. A coil spring I3 on the bolt 8yieldingly urges the ear i2 against the hinge plate or leaf 1. A nut i4is threaded on the rear end portion of the bolt 8 for permitting thetension of the spring l3 to be regulated as desired.

The opening or aperture in the ear 12 which accommodates the bolt 8 isindicated at l5. As illustrated to advantage in Figure 7 of thedrawings, the rear face of the hinge plate or leaf 1 has formed thereinarcuate series of rounded sockets or depressions I6 which are concentricwith the opening 15. Mounted on the front of the ear l2 are roundedprojections or detents I! (see Fig. 8) which are engageable in thesockets 16 for releasably securing the pedai member ID in either of itssignalling positions or in neutral position. It may be well to herestate that the coil spring l3 engages the detents H in the sockets l6and permits said detents to ride out of said sockets.

Mounted on the front of the hinge plate or leaf 1 is a switch which isdesignated generally by the reference numeral [8. The switch I8 includesa block IQ of suitable insulating material, said block being of angularcross section and including a curved or rounded top 20. A countersunkscrew 2| secures the insulating block l9 to the hinge leaf or plate I,said screw 2| being threaded into the headed end portion of the bolt 8.

Mounted on the lower side of the block I9 is a resilient contact strip22 of suitable conducting material. The intermediate portion only of theresilient contact strip 22 is secured to the block I9, the end portionsthereof being free to be bent away from said block. Mounted beneath thecontact strip 22 and spaced therefrom but engageable thereby areinsulated, oppositely extending contact fingers 23. Radial buttons 24are slidably mounted in the end portions of the are adapted to beilluminated by electric lamps Conductors 28 electrically connect thecontact fingers 23 to the lamps 21. The contact strip 22 is connected at29 to a storage battery 30. If desired, a telltale light on theinstrument board of the vehicle may be interposed in the electriccircuit for showing if the lamps 2'! are functioning.

It is thought that the operation of the device will be readily apparentfrom a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the pedal member IEIwith the rest of the assembly is adapted to swing in a vertical plane onthe floor bracket I for operating the engine throttle valve in the usualmanner. 'In Figure l of the drawings, the reference numeral 3!designates a conventional operating rod from the throttle valve which isengaged beneath the free forward. end portion of the pedal member I!)for actuation thereby. When the pedal member It] is in intermediate orneutral position the detents I? are engaged in the intermediate socketsI6 and the electric circuits to the signal lamps 21 are open. Toenergize either of the lamps 21 the pedal member H] is simply rockedlaterally in the desired direction on the bolt 8. Thus, either of thebuttons 24 is depressed by the plate H for energizing one of the lamps21 thereby illuminating the desired direction indicating arrow 26. Thedetents l'i'engage in the end sockets 16 for releasably securing thedevice in either of its circuit closing positions. Of course, when thefree end portions of the contact strip 22 are bent downwardly by theslidablebuttons 24. they are engaged with the fingers 23-. The operatoris unlikely to leave either of the signals on unintentionally whiledriving as his foot will be in an unnatural position when the pedalmember I 0 is rocked to either signalling position substantially assuggested in broken lines in Figure 3 of the drawings.

It is believed that the many advantages of a combined accelerator pedaland switch constructed in accordance with the present invention will bereadily understoodand although. a 'preferred embodiment of the device isas illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in thedetails of construction and in the combination and arrangement of partsmay be resorted to which will fall within the scope. of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a pedal member pivoted on longitudinal and transverseaxes for bodily movement of the entire area of the pedal, and a controlswitch engageable and operable to closed position by said pedal memberwhen it is turned on its longitudinal axes.

2. A combined accelerator pedal and switch including a support, a hingemember journaled on said support for front and rear swinging movement, apedal member journaled on said hinge member for lateral rocking movementof the pedal on an axis at right angles with respect to the axis of thehinge member, and an electric switch mounted on the hinge member andoperable to. closed position by the pedal member upon rocking movementthereof.

3. 'A combined accelerator pedal and switch comprising a support, ahinge member pivotally' mounted on said support, a bolt mounted on thehinge member at right angles to the axis of the hinge member, a p'eua1member slidabl'e longitudinally and rockably mounted on said bolt, anelectric switch mounted on the hinge member and operable to closfdposition by the pedal inember'upon rocking movement thereof, and "meansfor releasably securing -the pedal "member in ad'justedposition on thehinge member.

4. combin'edaccelerator 158C131 and "Switch comprising a floor bracket,a'hingeinember journaled on said floor bracket, said hinge member havinga plurality 'of sockets therein, a bolt mounted on the hinge m'ember'a'tright anglesto the axis of the hinge membena pedal member, an earprojecting'f'rom said pedal member and slidably and rockably mounted onthe bolt, a.

switch on the hingem'ember operable to closed po- 'sition by the p'edalmember upon rocking movement thereof, a'spring' on th'e'bolt enga'ged'w'ith the ear for yieldin'gly urging sam'e toward the hingemember, and detents on said ear engageable in the sockets for releasablysecuring the pedal member in adjusted position "on the hinge member.

5. A combined accelerator pedal and switch comprising a support, a hingemember "journaled on the support, a. pedal member rockably mounted onsaid hinge member on an axis at right. angles to the axis of the hingemember, and a switch mounte dion the'hingemember, said switch, includingan insulating element, electric contacts mounted on said element,and'buttons slidably mounted in the element for closing. the contacts,said. buttons, being operable by thepedal member upon rocking movementthereof.

SAMUEL G. SMITH.

